Physiopedia represented at the 20th Greek Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Conference in Athens

Physiopedia proudly presented its volunteer community and practices at the 20th Greek Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Conference in Athens last month.

The 20th Greek Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PMR) Conference was held at the War Museum in Athens on November 13–16 2024. This annual event, organised by the Hellenic Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Association, gathers participants not only from the medical profession but also from other health disciplines such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and psychology. 

This year’s central theme was “Moving Rehabilitation Forward: Rehabilitation 2030: A call for action”, which is based on the WHO’s initiatives and meetings regarding a) the growing need for rehabilitation; b) the recognition of rehabilitation as a global public health priority; and c) the need for coordinated and concerted global action towards strengthening rehabilitation in health systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Functioning has been acknowledged as an important WHO health indicator alongside mortality and morbidity. During the event in November, experts, clinicians, researchers and students shared their experiences on innovative ways, tools and alliances in the field of rehabilitation that can lead to better functioning and quality of life for patients. Topics such as the State of and the Future of Rehabilitation in Greece, Fatigue in Rehabilitation, Interdisciplinary Approaches for the Management of Common PMR Challenges, the European Perspective and Challenges in PMR Postgraduate Education and continuing professional development (CPD) issues were discussed among participants. 

Physiopedia’s Dr Angeliki Chorti attended the PMR Conference to discuss her role at Physiopedia and latest developments on the team. As section leader for technology, research and innovation at Physiopedia, Dr Chorti shared with the conference participants her insights from working as a volunteer and explained how Physiopedia’s team of volunteers contribute to making rehabilitation knowledge accessible to everyone all over the world. Physiopedia’s enthusiastic global team understands the needs and differences of global communities, which makes sure that the rehabilitation knowledge shared through Physiopedia is both comprehensive and relevant to different rehabilitation contexts. Dr Chorti highlighted the strong sense of teamwork and passion for giving back to rehabilitation professionals and society. Thanks to the dedication and commitment of our Physiopedia volunteers there are now more than 5000 pages of rehabilitation and professional development content on Physiopedia, attracting more than 33 million users annually! Top country visitors come from various income and development contexts – Physiopedia not only provides knowledge opportunities for low-to-middle income countries where resources may be more limited but also remains a reliable and trusted resource to all worldwide. In fact, thanks to the work of our volunteers, Physiopedia is the go-to resource for all rehabilitation professionals. 

Dr Chorti shared the processes and practices within Physiopedia as an example of fostering inclusive and sustainable communities for global education. Physiopedia follows a structured, guided and multifaceted approach to supporting volunteer participation and development – from the Volunteer Orientation Course when they join the team, to volunteer rewards and encouragement to take on new roles and responsibilities related to each individual’s qualifications, competencies and personal interests – all aligned with the Physiopedia mission for global access to rehabilitation knowledge.

Physiopedia Mission: To provide universal and equitable access to all rehabilitation knowledge.

Dr Chorti outlined work that is being undertaken by Physiopedia as part of the ReLAB-HS activities to develop competencies for rehabilitation professions as part of the International Rehabilitation Education and Training Toolkit (IRETT). She highlighted areas such as critical thinking, evidence-based knowledge and skills, collaboration and effective professional communication and behaviours, cultural competence and digital literacy, which are common ground among all the core rehabilitation professionals, including Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation professionals. As a Physiopedia volunteer, she appreciates the access to high quality rehabilitation courses in these areas through access to the Physiopedia Plus platform.

Importantly, Physiopedia volunteers report satisfaction and motivation from learning and contributing in a positive, enjoyable and supportive environment. Dr Chorti described the benefits of becoming more confident personally and professionally and how these experiences go beyond core professional requirements but also extend to personal and community activities and transfer to real-world environments.

After all, who says that volunteering cannot be fun and rewarding for all at the same time? If you would like to know more about volunteering with Physiopedia you can find out more and register your interest here.